Advice You Shouldn't Listen To Pt. III

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

I've put up a couple of these posts in the past, gathering pieces of advice or sayings that are commonly passed around but that I disagree with, to a certain extent. The first post was back in September 2016, and the second was last January. Now I'm back for another round.

While it's a list of only three, they're three that I think are important to consider. Because not all of the advice on the Internet is worth listening to.

No pain, no gain.

I agree with the notion that you can't achieve what you want without putting in some work. It's the pain aspect that I disagree with. I got thinking about this after reading one of Adriene Mishler's weekly newsletters last month, where she said, "If you are seeking transformation, remember we don't always have to be in pain to gain. (In fact, let's not and say we did.)" And I agree. Let's gain and let's enjoy it along the way.

Especially when it comes to fitness, you don't have to be in pain to make progress. Not feeling sore afterward doesn't mean you didn't get a good workout in. Work toward your goals, but don't hurt yourself along the way.

College is the best four years of your life.

As much as I enjoyed college, I sure hope those four years weren't the best of my entire life. There are three reasons why we need to retire this phrase.

First, for some of us, it's just not true. It's not the best four years, and being told that they are can be discouraging. For me, my sophomore year in particular was very not-great, and I remember thinking about this saying and feeling even worse because a time that was supposed to be a highlight of my life was turning out to be a notably bad experience. The reality is that there are people who loved college, people who hated it, and people who end up somewhere in the middle. All of us move on anyway.

Second, a lot of people choose not to go to college, and we shouldn't make them feel like they're missing out on the best years of their life. They're not.

Third, if true, it's actually kind of sad. We graduate at 22 and it's all downhill from there? What a bummer.

#NoDaysOff

For those unfamiliar, this is referring to exercising. Working out on the weekend? #NoDaysOff. Working out the morning of a holiday? #NoDaysOff. It's a motto with good intentions that can actually end up creating an unhealthy lifestyle or mindset. Days off aren't a bad thing. In fact, they're essential. If you don't take any days off from the gym, hats off to you for your motivation but you're bound to push yourself too far and burn out. Your muscles need rest. Remember that taking days off doesn't mean you're any less dedicated to your fitness goals.